US4626908A - Tracking input device - Google Patents

Tracking input device Download PDF

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Publication number
US4626908A
US4626908A US06/554,236 US55423683A US4626908A US 4626908 A US4626908 A US 4626908A US 55423683 A US55423683 A US 55423683A US 4626908 A US4626908 A US 4626908A
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Prior art keywords
image
object image
imaging
input device
picture
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Expired - Fee Related
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US06/554,236
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English (en)
Inventor
Yuichiro Tani
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Toshiba Corp
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Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co Ltd
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Assigned to TOKYO SHIBAURA DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, A CORP. OF JAPAN reassignment TOKYO SHIBAURA DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, A CORP. OF JAPAN ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: TANI, YUICHIRO
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N23/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00
    • G01N23/02—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material
    • G01N23/04—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material and forming images of the material
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
    • H04N23/30—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof for generating image signals from X-rays

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an image input device used in inputting an image into an image processing apparatus.
  • angiography is used as one method of diagnosis of the circulatory organs.
  • This method consists of inserting a catheter into the heart or blood vessels, injecting a contrast medium into the blood vessels through the catheter, and imaging the flow of the resultant contrast medium by an X-ray imaging apparatus.
  • the X-ray image obtained through the irradiation of X-rays is imaged by a TV camera, and the output image signal from the TV camera is converted to a digital signal by an analog-to-digital converter.
  • the digital signal is input into a computer, whereby the image processing is carried out.
  • portions to be diagnosed When a portion to be diagnosed, which is injected with such a contract medium, is imaged, the position thereof on the entire picture screen, the magnification thereof, etc., are widely varied, according to the imaging conditions. Furthermore, since portions to be diagnosed might include such portions as, e.g., the heart, which change in shape over time, it is likely that the object to undergo diagnosis will be displaced from the central portion of the picture screen; or, at worst, will be partially or wholly lost from the screen.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide an image input device wherein the imaging conditions can be varied in accordance with the variation in position and configuration of the object to be diagnosed and an image thereof can be input while the object image is being kept located in the central portion of the picture screen.
  • an image input device comprising a imaging section for imaging a picture including an object to be diagnosed, which object varies in position and configuration over time, an object extracting circuit for extracting an object image by determining the difference in brightness between the two pictures obtained from the imaging section at a prescribed time interval, a position judging circuit for judging whether or not the extracted object is located within a predetermined portion of a picture screen, and a control circuit for controlling the imaging conditions of the imaging section in accordance with the results of judgement made by the position judging circuit.
  • FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram of an image input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a view showing the operation of a difference circuit of FIG. 1;
  • FIGS. 3A and 3B constitute a view for use in explaining the principle of "position judgement"
  • FIGS. 4A and 4B show actual examples of "position judgement".
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of this embodiment.
  • An X-ray tube 12 and a fluorescent plate 14 are provided with a patient 10 therebetween.
  • the fluorescent X-ray image obtained by the fluorescent plate 14 is imaged by a TV camera 16.
  • the fluorescent plate 14 may be replaced by an image intensifier tube.
  • the TV camera 16 is comprised of an objective lens 18 and an image pickup tube 20. While the X-ray tube 12 and fluorescent plate 14 are fixedly disposed, the TV camera 16 is made movable in three directions of X, Y and Z.
  • the output signal from the image pickup tube 20 is input to a processing amplifier 22.
  • the output signal from the processing amplifier 22 is supplied to a CPU 26 and a difference circuit 28 through an analog-to-digital converter 24.
  • various image processings such as edge intensifying, etc., are performed with respect to the X-ray image.
  • the image thus processed is stored to an external storage device including a magnetic tape 30, magnetic disk 32, floppy disk 34, etc.
  • the difference circuit 28 determines the difference in brightness between the two X-ray pictures obtained at a prescribed time interval.
  • the difference circuit 28 is comprised of two frame memories and a subtracter.
  • the output signal from the difference circuit 28 is supplied to an object extracting circuit 36.
  • the signal of the object image extracted by the object extracting circuit 36 is supplied to a position judging circuit 38, in which it is judged whether or not the object image is located within a predetermined portion of a picture screen.
  • the output judgement signal from the position judging circuit 38 is supplied to a camera position controller 40.
  • the camera position controller 40 has a mechanism for moving the TV camera 16 in the three directions, i.e., in the X, Y and Z directions.
  • a contrast medium is injected to the patient 10. X-rays are irradiated onto that portion of the patient 10 which is to undergo diagnosis.
  • the fluorescent X-ray image produced by the fluorescent plate 14 is imaged by the TV camera 16.
  • a contrast medium is further injected to the patient 10.
  • the output signal from the TV camera 16 is video-processed by the processing amplifier 22, thereby obtaining an image signal of the object in question.
  • This image signal is converted to a digital signal by the analog-to-digital converter 24, which digital signal is input into the CPU 26, wherein various image processings are performed on an on-line basis.
  • the image thus processed is stored in the external storage device.
  • the position of the TV camera 16 is first manually adjusted so that the object image may be located at the central portion of the picture screen. Where the object image is still, or where the variation in configuration and position of the object image, if any, occurs within a small range, the camera position may be fixed. However, where the variation of the object image is wide or large, then the camera position is adjusted as follows so that the object image may be located at all times at the central portion of the picture screen.
  • the TV camera 16 is of a motion picture type in which 30 frames are picked up per second. In the difference circuit 28, two picture signals obtained at a prescribed time interval among the output picture signals from the TV camera 16 are sampled.
  • These two pictures may be two consecutive pictures, since these pictures are spaced from each other at a time interval corresponding to one frame. Preferably, however, they are more spaced from each other, for example, at a time interval corresponding to several frames.
  • One of the sampled picture signals is subtracted from the other, thereby determining a difference therebetween. This difference corresponds to the movement or variation of the object.
  • the state wherein the object is moved or varied is shown in FIG. 2. Assume now that a picture 44 is obtained in a prescribed period of time after a picture 42 is obtained. An object image 45 is enlarged or moves from a state indicated by picture 42 to a state indicated by picture 44 (i.e. . . , in the direction indicated by arrow A).
  • picture 42 is subtracted from picture 44, thereby obtaining a difference picture 46.
  • the object image portion in the whole picture screen is made whitish (bright), while the remaining portion thereof is made blackish (dark).
  • the difference between the two pictures is obtained as the difference in brightness between the picture cells of one picture and the corresponding picture cells of the other.
  • the difference picture consists of three regions, i.e., the ⁇ , ⁇ and 0 regions.
  • Concerning the ⁇ region the corresponding object image exists in picture 44, but not in picture 42.
  • the ⁇ region the corresponding object image exists in picture 42, but not in picture 44.
  • the 0 region the corresponding object image exists or does not exist in picture 44 and in picture 42.
  • the object extracting circuit 36 extracts a zone covered by the ⁇ and ⁇ regions.
  • the zone covered by these regions is a picture zone wherein any image variation occurs, i.e., an object image zone.
  • the position judging circuit 38 judges the position of the extracted zone in the picture screen. Where the extracted zone 50 covered by the ⁇ and ⁇ regions is located at the central portion of the picture screen, as shown in FIG. 3A, the object image sufficiently falls within the area of the picture screen. Where the extracted zone 50 is cut off by the side edge of the picture screen as shown in FIG. 3B, the object image is displaced from the central portion of the picture screen, namely is partly lost from the picture screen.
  • the maximum value Xmax and minimum value Xmin of the extracted zone 50 in the X direction, and the maximum value Ymax and the minimum value Ymin thereof in the Y direction, are determined respectively, whereby the position of the object image in question is judged as to whether or not it is located within a specified area of the picture screen.
  • Image inputting is effected on an on-line basis.
  • This specified area therefore, is defined between an outer boundary 52, with somewhat smaller than the picture screen to provide some allowance for arrangement of the object image and an inner boundary 54 for determining the minimal magnification of the object image.
  • the position judging circuit 38 will supply an output judgement signal to the camera position controller 40, to move the TV camera 16 in the X and Y directions.
  • the composition of the picture will be so changed that the extracted image zone 50 may fall inside of the outer boundary 52.
  • the size of the extracted image zone 50 in the picture screen is very small. Therefore, the magnification of the image in question is required to be increased.
  • the increasing of the magnification of the image in question is achieved merely by moving the TV camera 16 in the Z direction to the fluorescent plate 14. Conversely, if the magnification of the object image is so large that all the detected values Xmax, Ymin, Ymax, Xmin are located outside of the outer boundary 52, the TV camera 16 will be moved in the Z direction away from the fluorescent plate 14. Thus, the object image, between the outer boundary 52 and inner boundary 54, is inputted into the CPU 26.
  • the composition of the object image can be changed accordingly. Consequently, it is possible to provide an image input device which enables the inputting of an image thereof, while the object image is being kept situated at the central portion of the picture screen, without any loss of the information or signals on the object image. If this image input device is applied to an X-ray image processing apparatus, the image processing can be effected on an on-line basis. This produces the effect of making it possible to shorten the time period required for X-ray imaging i.e., the time period required for a patient to be exposed to x-rays.
  • the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, i.e., to a case wherein an image of the object is input through X-ray imaging.
  • This invention can be applied to various modifications which composition is changed according to a difference picture between two pictures photographed.

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  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Closed-Circuit Television Systems (AREA)
  • Image Analysis (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Radiation Diagnosis (AREA)
  • Analysing Materials By The Use Of Radiation (AREA)
  • Image Processing (AREA)
  • Transforming Light Signals Into Electric Signals (AREA)
US06/554,236 1982-11-22 1983-11-22 Tracking input device Expired - Fee Related US4626908A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP57203592A JPS5994045A (ja) 1982-11-22 1982-11-22 画像入力装置
JP57-203592 1982-11-22

Publications (1)

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US4626908A true US4626908A (en) 1986-12-02

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US06/554,236 Expired - Fee Related US4626908A (en) 1982-11-22 1983-11-22 Tracking input device

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US (1) US4626908A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
EP (1) EP0111751B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5994045A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE3381341D1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4723261A (en) * 1983-12-22 1988-02-02 U.S. Philips Corporation X-ray examination apparatus incorporating image subtraction
US4937878A (en) * 1988-08-08 1990-06-26 Hughes Aircraft Company Signal processing for autonomous acquisition of objects in cluttered background
US4959714A (en) * 1988-08-08 1990-09-25 Hughes Aircraft Company Segmentation method for terminal aimpoint determination on moving objects and apparatus therefor
US5023809A (en) * 1987-02-02 1991-06-11 Precision Technology Inc. Target tracking device
US5111492A (en) * 1990-07-06 1992-05-05 General Electric Cgr S.A. X-ray diagnosis system for angiographic examination with device for the automatic tracking of a contrast medium
US5119190A (en) * 1963-03-11 1992-06-02 Lemelson Jerome H Controlling systems and methods for scanning and inspecting images
US5125018A (en) * 1990-06-29 1992-06-23 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba X-ray diagnostic apparatus
US5333213A (en) * 1991-06-28 1994-07-26 Nippon Hoso Kyokai Method and apparatus for high speed dynamic image region extraction
US5379236A (en) * 1991-05-23 1995-01-03 Yozan Inc. Moving object tracking method
US5467127A (en) * 1991-07-09 1995-11-14 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Automatic objects tracing device of camcorder
US5930329A (en) * 1997-09-22 1999-07-27 Siemens Corporate Research, Inc. Apparatus and method for detection and localization of a biopsy needle or similar surgical tool in a radiographic image
US6055449A (en) * 1997-09-22 2000-04-25 Siemens Corporate Research, Inc. Method for localization of a biopsy needle or similar surgical tool in a radiographic image
US20050074140A1 (en) * 2000-08-31 2005-04-07 Grasso Donald P. Sensor and imaging system
EP1643757A1 (en) * 2004-09-30 2006-04-05 General Electric Company Systems and methods for dynamic optimization of image
US7321699B2 (en) 2002-09-06 2008-01-22 Rytec Corporation Signal intensity range transformation apparatus and method

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2770192B2 (ja) * 1989-07-21 1998-06-25 株式会社島津製作所 Ｘ線ディジタル・サブトラクション装置
US5457728A (en) * 1990-11-14 1995-10-10 Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Coronary tracking display
DE4236950C1 (de) * 1992-11-02 1994-03-24 Ulrich Dr Solzbach Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Bearbeitung und Darstellung von Bildsequenzen
JP4901448B2 (ja) * 2006-12-18 2012-03-21 ジーイー・メディカル・システムズ・グローバル・テクノロジー・カンパニー・エルエルシー Ｘ線ｃｔ装置
PL2875061T3 (pl) 2012-07-18 2020-04-30 Dow Global Technologies Llc Ognioodporny i/lub antystatyczny elastomer poliuretanowy, katalizowany bez rtęci

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US3419674A (en) * 1965-10-14 1968-12-31 Automatic Elect Lab Image positioning and coupling circuits for television camera and display apparatus
US3444380A (en) * 1966-10-26 1969-05-13 Nasa Electronic background suppression method and apparatus for a field scanning sensor
US3522585A (en) * 1965-01-30 1970-08-04 Emi Ltd Pattern recognition devices
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US3967053A (en) * 1973-11-02 1976-06-29 Carl Zeiss-Stiftung Method and means for electronic image analysis within a raster-scanned field
DE2754687A1 (de) * 1976-12-11 1978-06-15 Emi Ltd Korrelationsanordnung
JPS5573180A (en) * 1978-11-28 1980-06-02 Nippon Abionikusu Kk Picture tracking system
US4364089A (en) * 1979-10-31 1982-12-14 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Binary correlation video tracker
JPS58147287A (ja) * 1982-02-26 1983-09-02 Toshiba Corp 撮像装置
US4409615A (en) * 1980-12-29 1983-10-11 Thomson-Csf Broadcast, Inc. Video imaging with automatically controlled radiation source

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JPS5942836B2 (ja) * 1978-07-24 1984-10-17 シチズン時計株式会社 アラ−ム時計の構造
JPS55102065A (en) * 1978-10-31 1980-08-04 Toshiba Corp Picture processor
US4296470A (en) * 1979-06-21 1981-10-20 International Business Machines Corp. Link register storage and restore system for use in an instruction pre-fetch micro-processor interrupt system
JPS5611560A (en) * 1979-07-11 1981-02-04 Fuji Electric Co Ltd Designation system of specific area
DE3043703C2 (de) * 1980-11-19 1983-01-20 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Röntgendiagnostikeinrichtung zur Erstellung von Subtraktionsbildern
US4432014A (en) * 1981-05-08 1984-02-14 General Electric Company Video-photo frame size coordinator
JPS58221932A (ja) * 1982-06-17 1983-12-23 株式会社東芝 画像入力装置

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3522585A (en) * 1965-01-30 1970-08-04 Emi Ltd Pattern recognition devices
US3419674A (en) * 1965-10-14 1968-12-31 Automatic Elect Lab Image positioning and coupling circuits for television camera and display apparatus
US3444380A (en) * 1966-10-26 1969-05-13 Nasa Electronic background suppression method and apparatus for a field scanning sensor
DE2041530A1 (de) * 1970-08-21 1972-02-24 Messerschmitt Boelkow Blohm Verfahren zum Fernlenken eines sich selbsttaetig bewegenden Koerpers und Einrichtung zur Durchfuehrung des Verfahrens
US3967053A (en) * 1973-11-02 1976-06-29 Carl Zeiss-Stiftung Method and means for electronic image analysis within a raster-scanned field
DE2754687A1 (de) * 1976-12-11 1978-06-15 Emi Ltd Korrelationsanordnung
JPS5573180A (en) * 1978-11-28 1980-06-02 Nippon Abionikusu Kk Picture tracking system
US4364089A (en) * 1979-10-31 1982-12-14 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Binary correlation video tracker
US4409615A (en) * 1980-12-29 1983-10-11 Thomson-Csf Broadcast, Inc. Video imaging with automatically controlled radiation source
JPS58147287A (ja) * 1982-02-26 1983-09-02 Toshiba Corp 撮像装置

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5119190A (en) * 1963-03-11 1992-06-02 Lemelson Jerome H Controlling systems and methods for scanning and inspecting images
US4723261A (en) * 1983-12-22 1988-02-02 U.S. Philips Corporation X-ray examination apparatus incorporating image subtraction
US5023809A (en) * 1987-02-02 1991-06-11 Precision Technology Inc. Target tracking device
US4937878A (en) * 1988-08-08 1990-06-26 Hughes Aircraft Company Signal processing for autonomous acquisition of objects in cluttered background
US4959714A (en) * 1988-08-08 1990-09-25 Hughes Aircraft Company Segmentation method for terminal aimpoint determination on moving objects and apparatus therefor
US5125018A (en) * 1990-06-29 1992-06-23 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba X-ray diagnostic apparatus
US5111492A (en) * 1990-07-06 1992-05-05 General Electric Cgr S.A. X-ray diagnosis system for angiographic examination with device for the automatic tracking of a contrast medium
US5379236A (en) * 1991-05-23 1995-01-03 Yozan Inc. Moving object tracking method
US5333213A (en) * 1991-06-28 1994-07-26 Nippon Hoso Kyokai Method and apparatus for high speed dynamic image region extraction
US5467127A (en) * 1991-07-09 1995-11-14 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Automatic objects tracing device of camcorder
US5930329A (en) * 1997-09-22 1999-07-27 Siemens Corporate Research, Inc. Apparatus and method for detection and localization of a biopsy needle or similar surgical tool in a radiographic image
US6055449A (en) * 1997-09-22 2000-04-25 Siemens Corporate Research, Inc. Method for localization of a biopsy needle or similar surgical tool in a radiographic image
US20050074140A1 (en) * 2000-08-31 2005-04-07 Grasso Donald P. Sensor and imaging system
US7522745B2 (en) 2000-08-31 2009-04-21 Grasso Donald P Sensor and imaging system
US7321699B2 (en) 2002-09-06 2008-01-22 Rytec Corporation Signal intensity range transformation apparatus and method
EP1643757A1 (en) * 2004-09-30 2006-04-05 General Electric Company Systems and methods for dynamic optimization of image

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0111751B1 (en) 1990-03-14
EP0111751A2 (en) 1984-06-27
JPH0362073B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1991-09-24
EP0111751A3 (en) 1986-10-22
DE3381341D1 (de) 1990-04-19
JPS5994045A (ja) 1984-05-30

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